Return to the City: The Strongest King-Chapter 1764 - 1702: Paradise Beyond the World

When Lin Feng heard that Qingluan was missing, his first reaction was that something was not right. He had the most contact with Song Xiaodong and knew that Song Xiaodong was known for his romantic exploits. Initially, he thought that Song Xiaodong would surely act impulsively like a hero to save the damsel in distress, but unexpectedly, Song Xiaodong, though somewhat impulsive, was able to listen to others' opinions. This gave Lin Feng some comfort, thinking that Song Xiaodong was indeed worthy of being the son of the Sect Leader, with strategy, intellect, and a capable demeanor.

Su Lie, upon hearing that Qingluan was missing, immediately thought that the matter at hand was critical and that he had to prevent Song Xiaodong from acting recklessly at all costs. He was even prepared to use force, because he couldn't give up the opportunity right in front of him. Unexpectedly, Song Xiaodong was not swayed by personal emotions, which was something to be admired in the Dragon Gate Young Master.

"The arrangement of these Eight Trigram Gates corresponds to the Bagua positions. According to the current time, finding the corresponding gate and going in is all it takes," Lin Feng explained to Song Xiaodong.

"Alright, let's head into the formation then," Song Xiaodong instructed.

Lin Feng and Su Lie had lived here for many years. Apart from controlling the activation of the Dragon Gate Great Array, they were well versed with the internal setup of the formation. With Song Xiaodong's instructions, Lin Feng demonstrated the method of calculating the position of the life gate based on time to Song Xiaodong, saying, "Young Master, only those at Elder Level and above are qualified to enter the Dragon Gate Holy Land. Now that both the Sect Leader and Vice Sect Leader are gone, only a few like me and Elder Su know the mechanisms, secret passages, and operations of the formation within the Dragon Gate Holy Land. I will teach you this now, hoping that the Young Master will learn it earnestly. These Eight Trigram Gates were specifically designed to deter uninvited guests trying to sneak in."

"Don't worry, Elder Lin, I will keep it in mind," Song Xiaodong solemnly promised.

Elder Lin led the way, and the group walked through one of the gates. Inside, the gate did not continue as parallel alleyways but instead transitioned to ascending stairs.

Song Xiaodong led the climb silently. As they ascended, the air became fresher, and the salty sea breeze grew stronger. After a while, they saw light ahead.

The sea breeze intensified, and the group finally finished climbing the stairs and reached the surface.

Song Xiaodong and the others looked around and found themselves standing before a range of rolling hills.

Song Xiaodong had thought that the Dragon Gate Holy Land was merely an arid tropical island. But looking around, he saw tropical rainforests everywhere, with no sea in sight, only the salty sea breeze blowing over from the ocean and the moist briny scent emanating from the forest.

The mountain in front of them was vast, with peaks rising one after another. The vegetation changed with the increasing altitude, transitioning from low shrubs to towering trees. The summit was shrouded in mist, and the entire mountain range was lush, towering, and majestic, presenting an extraordinary spectacle.

Song Xiaodong's mind was filled with memories of Qingluan. Their interactions involved more quarrels than tenderness, but when the Dragon Gate Great Array was activated, Qingluan had offered her full passion to Song Xiaodong without reservation.

Amidst the sudden change of scenery, none of the group looked back. Only Song Xiaodong was not admiring the landscape; instead, he asked Lin Feng, "Elder Lin, where is the core of the Dragon Gate Great Array located?"

"Young Master, the core of the Dragon Gate Great Array is at the top of the highest peak. If we hurry, we can reach it before nightfall," Lin Feng said, noting Song Xiaodong's serious demeanor and pointing to the peak.

"Let's go," Song Xiaodong said, not caring whether the others heard or not, and rushed into the dense forest.

The Dragon Gate Holy Land is where past Dragon Gate Sect Leaders and other core members engaged in cultivation and discussions. No one knows how many invaluable treasures are hidden in the Dragon Gate Treasury on the island. The island's climate is humid, the forest sultry and oppressive, so throughout history, Sect Leaders and Elders chose to build their residences on the peaks, for living, cultivating, and research purposes.

Within the Dragon Gate, there was a strict hierarchy. The highest summit housed not only the core that controlled the Dragon Gate Great Array but also the residences of past Sect Leaders. The entrance to the Dragon Gate Treasury was also within the Sect Leader's residence. From the top down, various peaks contained the residences of past Elders. With a long-standing history, the island's architectural styles range from ancient pavilions to modern luxurious villas, making it a virtual museum of Chinese architectural history.

Most of these buildings are well-preserved. Despite their age, they remain sturdy, which greatly surprised Song Xiaodong. Though situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where the climate is harsh and ever-changing, and no living person maintained them anymore, the Dragon Gate Great Array's protection had left these structures covered with only a thick layer of dust, with occasional small animals moving in and out. Otherwise, they were not too different from being inhabited.

However, Su Lie and Lin Feng had witnessed the past prosperity of the Dragon Gate Holy Land themselves. Seeing the ruins and remains before them now, they naturally felt a great sadness. When the group finally climbed to a peak and faced a courtyard's collapsed foyer, the usually composed Lin Feng finally sighed, "Twenty years, like a dream!"

"Elder Lin, why the lament?"

"Young Master, this was Elder Lin's former residence," Su Lie said, seeing Lin Feng like this. He too was moved and his voice trembled slightly.

"Young Master, let's go to the summit and regain control of the formation. It's urgent to get out and find Qingluan," Lin Feng said, momentarily lost in thought at the sight of the courtyard, before turning back into the forest.

Song Xiaodong pondered in his heart how Lin Feng and the others had painstakingly operated for over twenty years to return to the Holy Land. With the Dragon Gate Sect Leader and Vice Sect Leader both deceased, they had endured for this moment. Even for someone like Lin Feng, who had experienced a lifetime of battles, it was hard not to be moved at this time. Yet, for Song Xiaodong himself, he almost impulsively wanted to abandon this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a woman. He feared that his loyalty to the Dragon Gate as a Young Master might not match that of Elder Lin.